Lionel Two Signature Catalogs a Year!?

Ya might not want to take that as the authoritative answer, John.  I don't know one way or the other myself, but I'm not sure the "Lionel Racing" person gave you 100% accurate info.  I (and a number of dealers, etc.) had heard there would be one main/Signature catalog.  Could be true or could be not true.

Especially since the 2013 Signature Catalog does not say Volume One on the cover. Since it is blank, who knows?

I would follow Allan's cautionary note regarding just ONE Signature catalog this year.  I seem to recall that the email blast I received from Charles Ro indicated that -- aside from a Christmas catalog due in July -- we've pretty much seen what Lionel is announcing this year for delivery in 2013.  

 

Now there's certainly enough "wiggle room" in that wording to not completely rule out another catalog or special introduction brochure(s) this year... But I'm inclined to believe products announced in any additional catalog/brochure(s) won't be delivered until 2014 at the earliest.

 

Just a hunch, FWIW.  Announcing more stuff for delivery in 2013 would only encourage blow-out deals from an over-saturated supply.

 

David

Maybe that is way there is NO Vol. number on the cover.  L can go either way!.

 

Most of the time #2 was an advance for the next year!

I agree with all of you.  I was hoping to get a response to confirm what you all had been hearing.  This seems to have confused things more.

They could issue a 2014 preview catalog at the end of 2013.

 

 

Andrew

That's a correct assessment, I'd say. I doubt you received anything but some stock answer from Lionel Racing. My local dealer, who's been in the biz for decades and has been friends with J. Don Reece for decades, came back from York saying he was told there would only be one Signature catalog this year. I think that's probably accurate.

Ah - ambiguity: don't you love it?

LOL, Lee!!  Provides for more product flexibility as the market emerges throughout 2013. Probably a good thing for Lionel to do....

Funny. Not that infallibility exists anywhere among humans - or non-humans, for that

matter - but here you get a direct response from an at least semi-management employee

of the company, in black-and-white and in plain English, stating thus and so will happen,

and you STILL know more than he does.

 

Now, the #2 catalogue may not happen, life being life and all, but if you are correct about

that it will be purely from luck and not "knowledge." Funny.

 

I asked Lionel the question because in many other threads people are encouraged to go to the source which I tried to do.

 

I would be fine if Lionel could make a clear statement even if they said something like, "We reserve the right to come out with some special introductions."

 

I am just trying to determine if the 2013 catalog is all that there is from them for the remainder of 2013.  I want to know what to spend my birthday/Christmas money on.

 

At the moment I'm leaning towards their old PRR S1 duplex or SP scale Cab Forward, both of which I would love to see re-released.

I do love that fellow's job title:

 

"Customer Care Support Specialist"

 

Somebody want to explain that one to me? 

I can't wait for all the wailing and gnashing of keyboards if or when there's no Lionel 2013 V2 catalog at York in October.

 

Rusty

There certainly will be a run on many Laundromats' "untwist panties machines".  Inevitable.

So many in Business and Government would make a lot of money on Jeparody!  Their responses are in the form of a question?

Customer care support specialist in the Lionel racing team no less.  Most impressive.  How do you get a gig like that?

Guess the department needs CPR!

It's funny how guys who fix toy trains give themselves the title of "Tech". Even the kid at the quick lube joint is a "Tech".

I do remember during our tour of Lionel at red carpet event. That Matt told us that the next Vision Line engine was going to be the UP BigBoy, he also told us that it would be available in early 2014. And then he did tell us that it would not be in a catalog this year. Which struck me as being strange since you would think that it would be announced in Vol. 2 if it is going to be released in the spring of 2014.

 

Maybe they are going back to when they announced some special engines by brochures like in the early 2000's and eliminate the Vol. 2 catalogs as a way of saving some money.

 

And Charles Ro had also announced that there would be no Vol. 2 catalog at the beginning of May.

I think the key word here is "currently". Next fall when the vol2 catalog would be released this response you received from Lionel will no longer be "current".

 

Thats one of those "non answers" like politicians use. Yes, there are 2 catalogs now but.........maybe not next fall.

I suspect the world will not end if there is no Volume 2 catalog this Fall.

 

Tony

Up on "The D & H Bridge Line"

I was told by what I consider to be a reliable source a couple of weeks prior to York what to expect from Lionel in terms of changes. Part of what was said was to expect one "main" catalog from them this year other than the Christmas catalog. Everything that was told to me has played out so far, so I am not holding my breath for a second catalog. I personally think the hobby does not need a second one this year and next spring is good enough for me. I think that if this is correct, Lionel is making a smart move.

I heard through unconfirmed unreliable sources that Lionel did this cuz TCA dropped the 2 signature rule.  Still no cure for cancer.

What no volume 2. the buzzards won't have anything to rant about till next year. I got this info from my wife's second cousins third niece.

I think this is the final word on the catalog issue.  LCCA released part v2 of their interview with Howard Hitchcock and he definitively states:

 

• Only one Signature catalog in 2013
• 2014 catalog to be released in very late 4th quarter 2013
• New "Moderate Line" - conventional, higher end than RTR

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NbPznf4D8gc

RE: New "moderate line."  Sounds interesting. Wonder if that will mean more conventional classics (I hope so) or new issues of conventional sets?

Stop with the conventional classics!!! There is nothing left to produce!!

 

Lionel still has a huge list of railroad and private operator names and graphics to put on the Standard O Scale freight cars originally produced in the late 1970's and between 1985-1995. Those would be moderately priced car. They require a slight bolster modification to accept the new Lionel O Scale roller bearing trucks.

 

Andrew

News to me! There was a post here after the Signature catalog came out in April and several posters listed potential conventional classics yet to be made.

 

So, apparently, others would disagree.

Sounds like a dear John letter to me.

 

 

(in honor of farmer Bill)

I heard maybe, maybe not. 

 

Jerry

As stated in a few of the above posts.  There will not be a Vol II Signature catalog.

 

In addition to the Christmas catalog there will be announcements and/or brochures of a select few items Lionel will be introducing later in the year.

It means he answers the help desk phone!

 

Jerry

I wonder if this conventional "moderate line" will address the gap in Lionel's product offerings that Williams has been filling lately--solid conventional runners in the $150-$300 range... RTR set locomotive 'upgrades'. We know Lionel reads the forums, and Williams certainly gets a fair amount of good press here, deservedly so. Perhaps L is acknowledging the gap and addressing it with product. They've got a buyer here if that's the case.

I started a topic about what happened to the middle of the funnel some months ago. It was a pretty active topic. I wonder if it got some folks at Lionel thinking, or if it is just a coincidence and Lionel was already proceeding with plans to launch a "moderate line".

 

I'm curious to find out more about the "moderate" line.

 

I wonder if it is going to be:

 

1) Higher end Traditional size items - Baby or Jr. steam locomotives, or diesels with 2 motors and more diecast parts - able to run on on O27 or O31 curves.

 

2) Standard O scale items with less features and details to keep the price down.

 

3) a mixture of both?

 

In the "funnel" topic, TMCC was discussed for lower cost command control, but Mr. Hitchcock said it is going to be conventional items.

 

We'll find out in about 6 months or so.

1.  Yep.  We need the 2400 series green passenger cars.  What a gift that would be form Lionel!

 

2.  I always like the "separate-sale" advertising brochures of the '80s.  That's a great idea that should make a comeback if there is not second 2013 catalog.

The 5 Star General set!!!

It sounds like they may be doing the special introductions.  In that case I'll hold onto my money in anticipation.

Andrew

Stop with the conventional classics---

 

Not according to Lionel at York

They said they were giving the series a rest with much more to come

Still lots of interest

 

Time will tell

 

Thx

Joe S